Xiahou Dun's ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body。
Then there arose a shout behind him。 A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there。 These spread and soon the fire was in 〃the four quarters and the eight sides；〃 and fanned by a strong wind。
Xiahou Dun's troops were thrown into confusion and trampled each other down。 Many perished。 Zhao Yun turned on them again to make a slaughter。 Xiahou Dun dashed through the fire and smoke to escape。
Now Li Dian saw that things were going very badly； so he turned to get back to Bowang but fell upon a body of troops in the way； led by Guan Yu。 He desperately dashed into their midst and managed to get clear。 Yu Jin saw the supplies were being destroyed and there was nothing left to guard； so he escaped along a bye…path。 Two other generals； who came to try to save the baggage train； met Zhang Fei； and Xiahou Lan was slain forthwith； but Han Hao managed to flee。 Next morning the countryside was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood。
The armies met on Bowang Slope
And Zhuge Liang fought with fire；
A perfect strategist； he bent
All humans to his desire。
But poor Cao Cao； his enemy；
He trembled in his shoes
Before the man； who'd never fought
But yet could armies use。
Xiahou Dun drew up the battered remains of his army and led them back to Xuchang。
Zhuge Liang ordered his armies to collect。
As Guan Yu and Zhang Fei rode homeward； they confessed； saying； 〃Zhuge Liang is really a fine strategist！〃
Before long they saw Mi Zhu and Mi Fang leading out a small body of soldiers。 Among them was a light carriage in which the Directing Instructor Zhuge Liang was seating。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei dismounted and bowed before him。 The remaining bodies came in。 The spoil was distributed among the soldiers and all returned to Xinye； where the populace lined the roads to bid them wele。
〃We owe our lives to the Prince！〃 they cried to Liu Bei。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Xiahou Dun has been driven off； but Cao Cao will e with a stronger force。〃
〃And what shall we do？〃 replied Liu Bei。
〃My plan is quite ready；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Always battles； nowhere rest for horse or human；
Must rely on ruses； dodging where one can。
The plan prepared against Cao Cao will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 40 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Lady Cai Renounces Jingzhou；
Zhuge Liang Burns Xinye。
When Liu Bei asked how his adviser hoped to repel Cao Cao； Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Xinye is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation。 Liu Biao is ill and failing fast； so this is the time to take his region as a base where we may be safe against Cao Cao。〃
〃You speak well； but Liu Biao has shown me great kindness； and I could not bear to serve him an ill turn。〃
〃If you do not take this opportunity； you will regret it ever after；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I would rather perish than do what is wrong。〃
〃We will discuss it again；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
When Xiahou Dun reached the capital； he presented himself to his master in bonds and craved death。 But his master loosed him and let him tell his tale。
And Xiahou Dun said； 〃I was the victim of Zhuge Liang's evil machinations： He attacked with fire。〃
〃As a soldier from your youth； you should have remembered that fire was a likely weapon in narrow roads。〃
〃Li Dian and Yu Jin reminded me。 I am sorry enough now。〃
Cao Cao rewarded Li Dian and Yu Jin who had warned their leader。
〃Liu Bei as strong as he is now certainly is a menace to our existence； and he must be quickly destroyed；〃 said Xiahou Dun。
〃He is one of my anxieties；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃Sun Quan is the other。 The rest do not count。 We must take this chance to sweep the south clean。〃
Then orders were issued to prepare an army of five hundred thousand troops； in five divisions of ten legions each。 Each division had two leaders： Cao Ren and Cao Hong were in mand of the first division； Zhang Liao and Zhang He； the second； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan； the third； Yu Jin and Li Dian； the fourth。 The fifth body was led by Cao Cao himself。 The van was manded by Xu Chu。 The 〃horse〃 day of the seventh moon of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity was fixed for the march （AD 208）。
The High Minister； Kong Rong； offered a remonstrance。
He said； 〃Liu Bei and Liu Biao are both of the Imperial House and should not be attacked without grave reasons。 Sun Quan in the six territories of the South Land is terrible as a crouching tiger and； with the Great River as his defense； he is very secure。 If； Sir Prime Minister； you undertake this unjustifiable expedition； you will forfeit the respect of the world； I fear。〃
〃All three of them are disobedient ministers and rebels； and how can I fail to punish them？〃 replied Cao Cao。
Cao Cao was angry； and bade the adviser go from his presence。 Presently Cao Cao gave formal orders that he would put to death anyone who remonstrated on the subject of his expedition。
Kong Rong went forth from the Palace sadly。
Casting his eyes up to heaven； he cried； 〃Where is the chance of success when the perfectly inhumane attacks the perfectly humane？ He must be defeated！〃
One of the clients of the Imperial Inspector Chi Lu； whom Kong Rong had always treated contemptuously and disdainfully； happened to hear this apostrophe and told his patron who carried the tale to Cao Cao。
Chi Lu also added to it； saying； 〃Kong Rong habitually speaks disrespectfully of the Chief Minister and has been very friendly with Mi Heng。 In fact the insults that Mi Heng had hurled at you had been deliberately arranged and intrigued by Kong Rong。 Kong Rong and Mi Heng seemed to admire each other hugely； and Mi Heng used to say； 'Confucius is not dead； because Kong Rong is he；' and the other used to reply； 'And his treasured disciple； Yan Hui； has risen again； because Mi Heng is he。'〃
Chi Lu's tale angered Cao Cao； who ordered the arrest execution of the high minister。
Now Kong Rong had two sons； both young； who were sitting at home playing chess； when one of their servants ran in and said； 〃Your father has just been carried off for execution。 Why do you not run away？〃
The youths replied； 〃When the nest is pulled down； are the eggs left unbroken？〃
Even at that moment the same executors came and carried off the whole household。 The two youths were beheaded。 The father's corpse was exposed in the streets。
Minister Zhi Xi wept over the corpse。 This public exhibition of sympathy rekindled Cao Cao's anger； and he was going to punish it with death。
However； this additional punishment was prevented by Adviser Xun Yu； who said； 〃You should not slay a righteous man who came to mourn over his friend's corpse。 Zhi Xi had often warned Kong Rong against the danger his severe rectitude might lead him into。〃
Zhi Xi took up the remains of father and sons and buried them。
Kong Rong； who dwelt on the north sea shore；
A noble reputation bore；
With him all guests warm wele found；
And ceaselessly the wine went round。
For skill in letters he was famed；
In speech； he dukes and princes shamed；
Historians his merits tell；
Recorders say that he did well。
After wreaking his wrath on Kong Rong； Cao Cao issued the order to march。 Xun Yu was left in mand of the capital。
About this time the Imperial Protector of Jingzhou became seriously ill； and he summoned Liu Bei to his chamber。 Liu Bei went acpanied by his two brothers； Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； and Directing Instructor Zhuge Liang。
Liu Biao said； 〃The disease has attacked my very vitals； and my time is short。 I confide my orphans to your guardianship。 My sons is unfit to succeed to my place； and I pray you； my brother； administer the region after my death。〃
Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃I will do my utmost to help my nephews。 What else could I do； indeed？〃
Even at this moment came the news of the march of Cao Cao's armies； and Liu Bei； taking hasty leave of his kinsman； was forced to hurry to his station。 The evil tidings aggravated the sick man's condition； and he began to make his last arrangements。 In his testament he appointed Liu Bei the guardian of his son Liu Qi； who was to succeed in the lordship。
This arrangement greatly angered his wife； Lady Cai。 She closed the inner doors against all and confided to her own partisans； of whom Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were her confidants； the keeping of the outer gates。
The heir was at Jiangxia； and he came to make filial inquiries as soon as his father's condition became serious。
But Cai Mao refused him admittance and said； 〃Your father sent you to guard Jiangxia。 Such a very responsible post should by no means have been quitted without orders。 Suppose it was attacked； what might not happen？ If your father sees you； he will be very angry； and it will make him worse。 That would be most undutiful； and you should return to your mand at once。〃
Liu Qi stood out for some time； but admittance was denied him in spite of his tears。 So he returned to his post。 Meanwhile Liu Biao rapidly grew worse。 He anxiously looked for his son； but Liu Qi came not。 Suddenly Liu Biao uttered piercing shrieks and then passed away。
When the Yuans were lords of the north；
And Liu Biao held the bank of the river；
It seemed； so strong were they both；
That they would endure forever。
But the family affairs troubled their states；
And； meddling； confusion made；
It was mournful indeed to see
How quickly the houses decayed。
So Imperial Protector Liu Biao died。 Then the widow and her partisans took counsel together and forged a testament conferring the lordship of Jingzhou on the second son Liu Zong before they published the news of the death。
The wrongful heir was then fourteen years of age。 But he was a cunning boy； so he assembled the officials and said； 〃My father has passed away； and my elder brother is at Jiangxia。 More than that； our uncle is at Xinye。 You have made me lord； but if my brother and uncle e here with an army to punish me for usurping the lordship； what explanation can I offer？〃
At first no one replied。
Then Adviser Li Gui rose and said； 〃You speak well。 Now hasten to send letters of mourning to your brother and ask him to e and take his inheritance。 Also call upon Liu Bei to e and assist in the a